Off The Field Worries Concern McCoist

06 February 2012 12:12

Football results can take care of themselves but taking on HMRC is walking into the unkown

Ally McCoist is more worried about the dispute between Rangers and Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC) than results such as Sunday's 2-0 Scottish Cup defeat to Dundee United. Rangers only have the SPL title as a possible reward for their efforts this season. However, as far as McCoist is concerned, the wait for a verdict in a tax tribunal with HMRC that could land the club with a bill of £49million remains their biggest problem. McCoist said: "I think the crisis point comes with the tax case more than anything. That's the biggest problem that the club faces. I don't think there is any doubt about that. What we all need is clarification on what's happening so that we can move forward. The uncertainty regarding this tax issue is the biggest problem that we have. You could use the word 'crisis' in terms of the tax case, but we need to know one way or another where it stands and what we face so we can deal with it and move forward." McCoist lost top goalscorer Nikica Jelavic during the January transfer window but could not find anybody willing to fill his boots before the window closed. However, McCoist expects to have the backing of owner Craig Whyte if he identifies suitable players who are free agents. The Rangers manager said: "I think if I went to Craig with a player that we could maybe bring in he would certainly have a look at it. We've got two or three targets. I haven't gone as far as the finances but I know two or three players that would be appealing to us. But I will not bring anybody in who I don't think can go into the team or better the squad. I don't think there is any point in that at all." Rangers' need for new players was highlighted when they ended Sunday's fifth-round tie with a front pairing of Salim Kerkar - who has never started a game - and Andrew Little, whose injury problems meant he had not featured for the club since October 2010. McCoist added: "We have injury problems in that department. Kyle Lafferty and Steven Naismith can both play there. We're going with two not really recognised strikers for the last 15 or 20 minutes but that's where we are. I don't have any complaints about how the two lads went about it, I just felt we lacked a bit of quality to open up United today and that was a disappointing thing." Meanwhile, McCoist denied reports that Rangers were ready to sell Kyle Lafferty - who is currently sitting on the sidelines with a torn hamstring - to an English club for £1.75million. He said: "To my knowledge that's absolute nonsense. We have been trying to re-sign Lafferty and offer him a new deal. That's my views on it and that's crystal clear. I know nothing about trying to sell Lafferty and I certainly don't know of any bids that came in. I told the player that this morning as well." Asked if a deal could have been struck without his knowledge, McCoist replied: "I wouldn't have thought so, no." Sunday saw Rangers drop out of the Scottish Cup thanks to first-half goals from Gavin Gunning and Johnny Russell for United, but McCoist is confident his players will bounce back. He said: "The players are fine. They just get the sleeves rolled up and get on with it. That's the only way we go. The players are disappointed but, come Monday morning, we'll get back into training and go ahead. This club has had problems in the past but it's determination and grit and a lot of qualities that we have in that dressing room that will see us through this." United boss Peter Houston backed McCoist to transform Rangers' fortunes but insists his side deserved credit for the win. He said: "We weren't concerned with what's going on at Rangers. Rangers have got a good squad of players. Coisty will turn it around. He's a fantastic manager and I think he's going to be a great manager long term for Rangers. I put this result down to what we did, rather than what Rangers didn't do."